Device and method for improving security during the operation of air traffic

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a device for improving security in an aircraft during the operation of air traffic. The invention is characterized in that a security zone ( 2 ′), which can be sealed off by controllable access doors ( 25, 26 ) and monitored by sensors ( 24, 31 ), is provided between the passenger cabin ( 3 ) and cockpit ( 1 ) areas. The invention also relates to methods for improving security during the operation of air traffic, using said device. The advantage of the invention is that the penetration of the cockpit by unauthorized persons, who could neutralize the functions of the pilot or operational components, can be prevented. Even in the case of a present threat or a terrorist attack, involving the taking of hostages or a threat with the use of violence, the pilots in the cockpit are protected effectively.

[0001] The invention relates to a device for improving the safety during the operation of air traffic in a commercial aircraft as well as to a method using the device.

[0002] The air traffic operation is increasingly exposed to incursions by unruly passengers and also to terrorist attacks. Thus, particularly, those incidents substantially endanger the flight safety in which access to the sensitive cockpit area is achieved by force. Different technical and personnel and safety measures are in existence for protecting the cockpit. However, these are unsatisfactory in practice. As an example it should be mentioned that armed air marshals who are present incognito among the passengers cannot effectively protect the cockpit in particular instances where hostages are taken and where several terrorists are present. On the other hand it is also not possible to hermetically seal the cockpit from the passenger cabin, for example by a separation wall. Due to operational reasons it is self understood that the cockpit must have an access to the cabin so that authorized persons can enter the cockpit at any time without hindrance and to leave it again. For example, when pilots need to inspect equipment in the cabin or when a flight attendant needs to bring food and when an information exchange with the pilots needs to be maintained.

[0003] Accordingly it is an object of the invention to provide safety measures for the cockpit area which achieve an effective protection against an unauthorized penetration of persons into the cockpit. Simultaneously the accessability of authorized persons must be assured.

[0004] This object has been achieved by the measures defined in patent claim 1.

[0005] It is particularly advantageous that the safety in the air traffic operation is improved with such a measure. Unauthorized persons cannot penetrate into the cockpit to prevent the proper functioning of pilots or to destroy components that are necessary for proper operation. Even in case of a terrorist attack, when hostages are taken, or when the use of force is threatened, the pilots are effectively protected in the cockpit and gain time in order to perform protective measures against possible terrorists.

[0006] Methods for improving the safety are suggested in patent claims 12 and 13.

[0007] Detailed embodiments and developments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims 2 to 11 and in dependent claim 14. Details and further advantages are as shown in the following description of an example embodiment.

[0008] The invention is described in the following with reference to an example embodiment and illustrated in the drawings which show:

[0009]FIG. 1a the top plan view; and

[0010]FIG. 1b the side view of a front portion of a commercial aircraft body;

[0011]FIG. 2 the top plan view onto the development according to the invention of the sealable safety zone in a schematic illustration.

[0012]FIG. 1 shows a front end of the body of a commercial aircraft with the areas: cockpit 1 and passenger cabin 3. Pilot seats 11 and additional seats 12, for example for pilot trainers, are arranged in the cockpit area 1. A trap door 13 is positioned in the cockpit floor for access to avionics components therebelow. In addition to the avionic panel 14 and the center console 15 there are arranged further operationally important components, for example panels for electric, hydraulic, and climate systems not discussed herein in further detail. A pilot resting space 16 is integrated into the cockpit 1 and shown in the drawing. This space may optionally be installed for long distance operation. Normally one reaches the cockpit 1 through a lockable cockpit door 17 which, however by itself is insufficient as a safety device as practice has shown.

[0013] Directly bordering on the cockpit there is the boarding area 2 forming the frontmost portion of the passenger cabin 3 and constructed with entrance doors 21 and built-in units 22 which frequently are constructed as galleys and toilets. A certain separation of the area 2 from the cabin is conventionally achieved by a type of folding door or a curtain 23 which, however, serves more for optical than for safety purposes. Thus, among other things, a protection against viewing is to be achieved for the cabin personnel when preparing the meals.

[0014]FIG. 1b shows a longitudinal sectional in a side view through the front end of the body with the cockpit area 1, the boarding area 2, and the passenger cabin 3 of the aircraft shown in FIG. 1a.

[0015] The construction of the safety zone 2′ is shown as a hatched area in FIG. 2 which substantially uses the surface area of the conventional boarding area 2 and does not require any additional space. This sealable area 2′ is achieved by the controllable and, if necessary, automatic access doors 25 and 26. Thus, the safety zone 2′ is provided with the function of a safety sluice.

[0016] The access doors 25 and 26 may be constructed as sliding doors, folding doors, roller doors, or conventional hinged doors, whereby due to the safety aspects respective materials should be selected for rigid explosion-safe and bulletproof doors.

[0017] The individual functions of the apparatus can be described as follows: Prior to starting the boarding by the passengers takes place normally when the doors 21 and 26 are open while the door 25 to the cockpit 1 remains closed. If required, initially both access doors 25 and 26 are kept closed prior to starting, while passengers enter individually the safety zone 2 through the entrance door 21. After completion of the check, the access door 26 to the cabin is opened and closed again as soon as the passenger has passed therethrough. This method can be used particularly when the check-in on the ground has safety defects. During the start, while cruising and during landing the doors 25 and 26 remain constantly closed and will be opened only when needed with a sluice function. More specifically, when one door is opened, the other remains closed until persons have entered into the safety zone or have left it.

[0018] For assuring the sluice function it is suggested according to the invention that the doors 25 and 26 are constructed as automatic sliding doors in a space-saving embodiment. Other embodiments are also possible. The opening or closing shall take place manually by pressing an operating button or through motion sensors or through conventional sensor means. It is suggested, for example to perform the monitoring of the safety zone 2′ and of the space in front of the door 26 (on the cabin side) by means of TV sensors 24 and 31, whereby the pilots are informed by means of a monitor in the cockpit regarding persons in front of or in the safety zone 2′. Thereafter the doors 25 and 26 can be closed or opened by pressing a button.

[0019] Similarly, it is possible that the respective open door is automatically closed upon a person passing therethrough by means of a photoelectric barrier 27 or 32 as is, for example, known in connection with elevator doors. For avoiding and imposing an additional work load on the pilots it is further possible to provide the cabin personnel with special door operating means for opening the cabin door 26, for example a touch panel, a chip card, or other means for electronically recognizing of body features (electronic thumbprint or electronic eye or face feature recognition). In case an endangerment danger occurs and unauthorized persons enter into the safety zone 2′, the pilot can close all doors so that possibly dangerous persons are locked up in the safety zone 2′. In order to incapacitate these persons temporarily a certain dosage of anaesthesia means or gas can be injected into the atmosphere of the safety zone 2′ or the supply of oxygen can be interrupted. For such measures an effective sealing of the zone 2′ must be assured at least relative to the cockpit and also relative to the passenger cabin. The pilots are constantly informed regarding the status or the behavior of the persons in the safety zone 2′ through the installed monitoring sensorics 24 and 31. Video cameras 24, 31 may be used as components of the monitoring sensorics. These cameras are interconnected with a monitoring monitor in the cockpit 1. A decision regarding the actual access to the cockpit 1 through the door 25 and regarding the presence of persons in the safety zone 2′ can be left preferably to the pilots and can, for example be achieved by means of a central locking controllable from the cockpit 1.

[0020] Summarizing, it can be stated that with the suggested apparatus it is prevented to a large extent that unauthorized persons can penetrate into the cockpit and neutralize the functions of the pilots or of the components necessary for operations. Also in case of a terrorist attack when it comes to taking hostages or a threatened use of force, the pilots are protected in the cockpit 1 and can steer a course for a possible rescue. In order to increase in such a scenario the chance for a liberation after the landing, it is further provided according to an embodiment of the invention that the pilots blow off the exit doors and/or emergency exits and activate emergency chutes through an emergency switch, not shown in the drawings. Thereby, not only the passengers have an opportunity of a rapid evacuation, also the alerted security forces can become active on the ground. In order to avoid an erroneous triggering of the evacuation system during flight, a ground distance sensor, among others or other measures are to be provided which permit a triggering of the evacuation system only when the aircraft is on the ground and at a standstill. 

1. An apparatus for improving the safety in an air traffic operation in an aircraft, characterized in that a safety zone (2′) is provided between the areas: passenger cabin (3) and cockpit (1), said safety zone being sealable by means of controllable access doors (25, 26), said safety zone being monitorable by sensors (24, 31).
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, characterized in that the operation of the access doors (25, 26) is provided manually, through an automatic light barrier trigger (32) or through other release devices.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, characterized in that the release device can take place through code numbers, a chip card or an electronic recognition of body features. 4 (canceled).
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, characterized in that the sensors (24, 31) are constructed as video cameras which are connected to a monitoring monitor in the cockpit (1). 6 (canceled).
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, characterized in that the access doors (25, 26) are constructed as sliding doors, folding doors, roller doors or hinged doors.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, characterized in that means for anesthetization are provided in the safety zone (2′), or that an oxygen reduction takes place for anesthetizing persons present in the safety zone (2′).
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, characterized in that the access doors (25, 26) are provided with sealing means.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, characterized in that an emergency switch is provided in the cockpit (1) for an aircraft evacuation. 11 to 14 (canceled).
 15. The apparatus of claim 1, characterized in that in the safety zone (2′), in the manner of a sluice, only one access door (21, 25 or 26) can be opened at a time, whereby the other access door (21, 25 or 26) is locked.
 16. The apparatus of claim 1, characterized in that the sensors (24, 31) are components of a monitoring system, by means of which the safety zone (2′) and the space (3) in front of the cabin door (26) on the cabin side are controllable.
 17. The apparatus of claim 10, characterized in that the actuation of the emergency switch, is linked to blowing off doors or to a deployment of emergency chutes, whereby a triggering takes place only when the aircraft is on the ground.
 18. A method for improving the safety in an air traffic operation while using an apparatus of claim 1, characterized in that, prior to starting, the passengers enter one-by-one through the entrance door (21) into the safety zone (2′), whereby simultaneously the further access doors (25, 26) remain locked, and that following a personal check, the cabin entrance door (26) is opened and closed again after a passenger has passed through.
 19. A method for improving the safety in an air traffic operation while using an apparatus of claim 1, characterized in that during starting, during flight and during landing the access doors (25, 26) remain constantly closed, and an opening signal is given from the cockpit (1) or from a release device only following a monitoring (person check), whereby the cabin access door (26) is opened first, then closed again following the entering of a passenger into the safety zone (2′), and only then the cockpit access door is opened.
 20. The method of claim 23, characterized in that a gas or anesthesia means are introduced into the atmosphere of the safety zone (2′) or that an oxygen reduction takes place for anesthetizing of persons present in the safety zone (2′). 